These were all fun! I got vibes from Nicky Case's :the game: in a good way. My favorites are GP, COGS, FX, FIFO, Sarbanes-Oxley. I like the parallel of the NTE game, and then also my mouse staying in the actual game web player on the webpage, haha.

Neat and relatable concept, and I like how the gameplay supports it. Usually I have no problem talking and eating with friends, so the game was frustrating at times when I failed. But this puts me in the shoes of someone who maybe does have trouble making conversation, or if it's an awkward conversation, or someone who is worried/anxious about the other person getting up and leaving (even though they actually wouldn't).

I wonder what creatures live in these holes? The research on communication gives me some confidence that we can talk to them somehow.They could be friendly, but we should be cautious not to upset them. I've tried speaking in calm tones into both holes we know of. No response.

I have a theory I'm itching to test. Or maybe I'm just entranced by the smell. Whichever it may be, it outweighs my sense of caution, and I take my first slow step into the puddle. The water is a perfectly refreshing temperature. As I make my way deeper, the glistening surface remains completely flat, without even a ripple. I'm forced to shield my eyes as the purple shine intensifies. I blindly swim forward a short ways (this puddle is bigger than I thought!). When my feet feel the bottom again, the ground's texture feels... different, somehow. The light fades, and I walk among the cattails as I slowly emerge from the water. Straight ahead there is a looming wooden structure. That wasn't there before - must be some kind of puddle-induced mirage. Confused and a little afraid, I approach it to get a better look... wait... it's starting to look familiar. It slowly dawns on me where I am - I'm right next to the northeast outpost. And I must have emerged from the watering hole just west of here.

I lie down. My head is spinning from what just happened, and from the smell.

I'm able to replicate the phantom cattail phenomenon as described by dualryan. The cattails and other flora that appear are strikingly similar to those surrounding the suspicious watering hole west of the outpost.

Whenever I find myself pacing about, stressing about whether to hum to the towelette or study in the library, laying down next to the puddle instantly relaxes me. I feel as tranquil as its perfectly still surface. I make a few beds out of leaves near the edge, I encourage y'all to use them.

The house is looking pretty b... err, good! I'm bringing some of those junky old signs from the cleared debris as tasteful wall decor. "CAUTION: MOIST ROCKS" is my favorite, though the ones with rune symbols are cool too. I wasn't able to decipher what they said, but I documented the new symbols in a book in the library. Also, I cut my hand on one of the signs, but it's no big deal.